The DPP has set up a youth support group in Miaoli, a constituency where the party has long struggled, with Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim appearing in person to stump for its candidates — a positive sign for grassroots morale, though the odds of turning the county around remain long.

• With 90 days to go before the 2026 local elections, Miaoli county magistrate candidate Chen Pin-an, Miaoli City mayoral candidate Lin Yueh-chin and Zhuolan Township mayoral candidate Chen Chun-nuan jointly launched a youth support group.
• Hsiao Bi-khim drew an analogy with the spontaneous efforts of disaster-relief volunteers in Hualien, saying that as long as people are willing to act, there is still a chance for change in Miaoli.
• The central government has put forward its "Balanced Taiwan" policy and the Taoyuan-Hsinchu-Miaoli Grand Silicon Valley plan, using industry and job opportunities to encourage young people to stay in their home towns.
• Chen Pin-an is campaigning primarily on youth policy, including the revitalisation of old housing, subsidies for study-abroad loans, the creation of an angel fund and a youth participatory budget.
• The local candidates, for their part, are focusing on attracting investment to science parks, agricultural transformation and childcare subsidies — filling in the everyday support that young people most lack after returning home.

Outlook: Miaoli has long been held by the non-green camp, and whether youth support can be converted into actual votes will be the key thing to watch over the next three months.